IRIS

The IRIS Magazine 3
Editor’s Comments
These past few
months I’ve
thought a lot
about how hard it
is to understand
someone else’s
perspective.
Part of this is due
to circumstances
– my wife and I have just had baby
number two, and I’ve spent countless
hours staring into his inscrutable face
waiting for him to burst into tears and
wondering “what are you thinking?”
But the time I’m specifically thinking
about came in a much grander
location than my living room… a
much, much grander location.
You see, instead of a faded t-shirt
covered in baby sick I was in my best
suit in the committee rooms of the
Houses of Parliament.
The Shadow Secretary for Children
and Families had invited experts
nationwide to a forum scrutinising
the recent SEND reforms and
somebody had sent me an invitation
(presumably by accident!).
I couldn’t help but be wowed by the
décor – huge ceilings, hushed silence
and marble statues of bearded men
give the distinct impression that this
is a place where very smart people
make decisions in your best interest.
I learnt a lot from the discussions,
and even though they took place
after work I’m glad I spent my own
time hearing them (my wife tells me
she was less glad!).
But what struck me was that,
although many of the people involved
were indeed smart people, there
were few “right” answers.
Of course, the day itself focused on
scrutinising what was in place but
what became clear during these
discussions is that there are a lot of
conflicting priorities to be taken
into account.
Often people’s desires collided with
the amount of money available (such
as the nationwide lack of positions for
Educational Psychologists) and even
seemingly universal ideas such as the
fact that we shouldn’t be utilising
old buildings as schools when they
weren’t fit for purpose were lent
some degree of irony by the location
(I thought about this while counting
the dozens of stone steps I’d climbed
to reach the room).
But what does this have to do with
you? Well… there was a debate
between those who believed in
increasing inclusion in mainstream
schools vs investing in special
schools and the room had reached
a stalemate, with professionals
questioning the truth of what others
were saying.
That is until one of only two parents
present stepped up and made her
case. I’m not going to tell you how
she felt about it – what matters is
that everyone listened in silence and
nobody questioned a word she said.
I guess the point I’m trying to make
is that people rarely make statues
of single mothers from Mapperley,
nor school leavers from Strelley
and sometimes it might seem as if
government policy doesn’t reflect
your needs.
But these decisions are supposed to
be made in your interest (if not you
who for?) – and they will listen to you
if you speak up.
Have a great summer!
Movement, Magic and Milk!
A new group in Arnold aims
to provide a relaxed, calm
movement and sensory session
for children under 5 with social
and communication difficulties.
Organiser Claire Rayment already runs
a successful series of groups called
Magical Movers across the county, but
decided to launch the new session
at the Milk Lounge to help parents
of children with additional support
requirements.
Claire worked as a nanny for a family
with a young child with autism prior to
setting up Magical Movers 11 years ago
and says that with the Milk Lounge she
realised she had found the right space
to realise one of her ambitions and
offer more tailored support and advice
while still engaging in songs, activities
and play.
Natalie Randall is the mother of two
year-old Noah and says the group is
the perfect fit for her and her
son - offering a calm place to
share experiences with other
parents.
She said: There’s a massive
gap a session like this and I’ve
not been able to find anything
like it”.
“I’ve gone to another group and
the kids are sitting quietly on
their parents’ knees and I’ve felt
“no, this isn’t for me!” whereas
here he sometimes just runs
round and does his own thing all
session and that’s fine”.
Magical Movers takes place each
Thursday from 1:30pm until
2:25pm and costs £4.50.
For more information and to
book your child’s place contact
Claire on 07954 991963 or email
info@magicalmovers.co.uk